The bizarre legless giant amphibian found in Cambodia: New species can grow to 1.5m in length and is NOT a snake Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2913779/The-bizarre-legless-giant-amphibian-Cambodia-New-species-grow-1-5m-length-NOT-snake.html#ixzz3P5e7UOhu Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

A new species of legless amphibian resembling a giant earthworm or a snake has been discovered in a remote but threatened area of Cambodian rainforest. The grey-brown creature, called Ichthyophis cardamomensis, was found in Cambodia's southwest Cardamom Mountains, an area under threat from habitat loss, according to Fauna and Flora International (FFI). The new species is often mistaken for a snake, with larger species known to grow up to 1.5 metres (nearly five feet) in length, FFI said. It was confirmed by scientists earlier this month according to leading Cambodian FFI herpetologist Neang Thy. 'These discoveries are important to demonstrate that much of Cambodia's biodiversity remains unknown and unstudied by science, and many more areas need to be searched,' Thy, who has been researching amphibians and reptiles since 2003, told AFP. The creature is caecilian -- an order of amphibians that look like snakes or earthworms and are generally found underground. Once a stronghold of the toppled Khmer Rouge regime, the bio-diverse Cardamom Mountains are home to an array of rare species, including the Asian elephant, but the area faces widespread deforestation. Conservationists warn that illegal logging and other habitat destruction could mean new species become extinct shortly after discovery.The creature is caecilian -- an order of amphibians that look like snakes or earthworms and are generally found underground. Caecilians are best described as snake or worm-like amphibians that lack limbs. They have the typical amphibian skin that clearly differs from snakes, and they have skull and bones which differs from worms. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2913779/The-bizarre-legless-giant-amphibian-Cambodia-New-species-grow-1-5m-length-NOT-snake.html#ixzz3P5dvMTv1